World War II vet is proud, but says once was enough

Clayton Daniels is seen in his home at Bob Hope Village. He served with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division in World War II.

NICK TOMECEK / Daily News

By ANGEL McCURDY / Daily News

Published: Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 05:07 PM.

SHALIMAR — At 90 years old, Clayton Daniel still can remember the thrill of jumping from a airplane and the terror of being at one of the most famous battles of World War II.

The former paratrooper with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division says his war stories are not much different than other vets. But the retired first lieutenant smiles when asked to share a few memories.

“It was 1943 when off I went to the war,” Daniel said while sitting on a couch in his home at Bob Hope Village. “After officer training school, a friend and I were trying to decide what to sign up for, so we went with the Airborne Division because we thought we wouldn’t have to walk so far.

“We didn’t know anything about the airborne, but we learned fast.”

At 22, Daniel became a replacement member with the 101st Airborne. The men were trained to parachute in and upon landing quickly access and fix any problems.

Daniel never parachuted in combat. He said the 10 times he jumped was plenty for him.

During the war, paratroopers used circular parachutes with no navigation system. As Daniel said, “We just hoped we landed in a good spot.” Men were told to land “feet first, then butt, then head.”

“The jumping part was OK, but that landing was scary,” he said. “A lot of the jumps were at night, so you couldn’t see the ground. Either that or you’d be turned around when it came time to land.”

Daniel's most vivid memory from the war was Dec. 20-27, 1944, when his unit was surrounded by German troops for a week. He said he was certain that he wouldn’t make it out alive.

It was the Siege of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, when the 101st Airborne stood between the Germans and the port of Antwerp in Belgium. Daniel said the living conditions tested the men.

“We slept in holes in the ground in below 0-degree weather,” he said. “Even the wine would get to be slushies. Living in that was as bad as battle.”

After a week, the weather cleared and allowed American planes enough clearance to fly over the troops and drop in supplies. Gen. George Patton’s 3rd Army arrived soon after.

Daniel was wounded when he was hit in the arm during an exchange of gunfire. It took him 14 months to recover and led to his retirement from the Army.

“I think I’m the oldest first lieutenant there is,” Daniel said, laughing. “At the time, I didn’t think being in the war was so great, but I’m a part of history and I’m real proud of that.

SHALIMAR — At 90 years old, Clayton Daniel still can remember the thrill of jumping from a airplane and the terror of being at one of the most famous battles of World War II.

The former paratrooper with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division says his war stories are not much different than other vets. But the retired first lieutenant smiles when asked to share a few memories.

“It was 1943 when off I went to the war,” Daniel said while sitting on a couch in his home at Bob Hope Village. “After officer training school, a friend and I were trying to decide what to sign up for, so we went with the Airborne Division because we thought we wouldn’t have to walk so far.

“We didn’t know anything about the airborne, but we learned fast.”

At 22, Daniel became a replacement member with the 101st Airborne. The men were trained to parachute in and upon landing quickly access and fix any problems.

Daniel never parachuted in combat. He said the 10 times he jumped was plenty for him.

During the war, paratroopers used circular parachutes with no navigation system. As Daniel said, “We just hoped we landed in a good spot.” Men were told to land “feet first, then butt, then head.”

“The jumping part was OK, but that landing was scary,” he said. “A lot of the jumps were at night, so you couldn’t see the ground. Either that or you’d be turned around when it came time to land.”

Daniel's most vivid memory from the war was Dec. 20-27, 1944, when his unit was surrounded by German troops for a week. He said he was certain that he wouldn’t make it out alive.

It was the Siege of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, when the 101st Airborne stood between the Germans and the port of Antwerp in Belgium. Daniel said the living conditions tested the men.

“We slept in holes in the ground in below 0-degree weather,” he said. “Even the wine would get to be slushies. Living in that was as bad as battle.”

After a week, the weather cleared and allowed American planes enough clearance to fly over the troops and drop in supplies. Gen. George Patton’s 3rd Army arrived soon after.

Daniel was wounded when he was hit in the arm during an exchange of gunfire. It took him 14 months to recover and led to his retirement from the Army.

“I think I’m the oldest first lieutenant there is,” Daniel said, laughing. “At the time, I didn’t think being in the war was so great, but I’m a part of history and I’m real proud of that.